Nigeria’s solely feminine boxer on the sixth Saudi Solidarity Video games in Riyadh, Adeshina Zainab Motunrayo, delivered a standout efficiency to clinch a silver medal within the girls’s 51kg boxing occasion, reinforcing Nigeria’s rising presence on the worldwide stage.
Motunrayo showcased outstanding grit and ring intelligence on Monday night time earlier than bowing to Turkey’s Rabia Topuz, whose superior method compelled the referee to cease the competition within the third spherical after the Nigerian obtained two counts.
The Nigerian fighter had earlier punched her manner into the ultimate with a commanding 4–1 semi-final victory over Algeria’s Mansouri Fatiha, guaranteeing Nigeria a spot on the rostrum. Whereas Topuz claimed the gold, Motunrayo leaves Riyadh together with her head held excessive and a silver medal that alerts promise for future championships.
Nigeria’s two-man boxing contingent, coached by Oyeleye Abayomi, additionally featured Raheem Ridwan within the males’s 65kg welterweight class. Ridwan narrowly missed a spot within the remaining after a 4–1 cut up resolution loss to Uzbekistan’s Abdullahi Madaminov within the semi-finals.
Vice President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Hon. Omonlei Imadu, counseled the athletes for his or her resilience and aggressive spirit, describing the outing as “a commendable step towards Nigeria’s return to world boxing relevance.”
He revealed that the NBF will now pivot towards preparations for main worldwide qualifiers in 2026, whereas rolling out nationwide grassroots programmes to “fish out and groom the subsequent technology of boxing expertise throughout Nigeria.”
Motunrayo’s silver now stands as a confidence-boosting milestone for Nigerian boxing, signalling a renewed cost for podium finishes at future continental and world competitions.
